Having emerged from a side room of the club's £50m Kirkby base shortly after Arne Slot's press conference on Friday morning, Van Dijk jokingly made reference to the giant screen that was showing Sky Sports News' coverage of Salah's new contract, feigning surprise at the breaking developments, before shuffling away towards the canteen.

The wry look when asked if it was to be him next might have given the game somewhat as supporters await the latest news for the club captain, but the smile on the Netherlands star's face will be nowhere near as wide as the one sporting director Richard Hughes will be wearing when he unwinds this weekend.



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For months, the inertia at the front of house had been mistaken, deliberately by some, as inaction on the part of Hughes, who, last summer, became the club's first permanent sporting director since Julian Ward left the club at the end of the 22/23 term.

Having signed only Federico Chiesa from Juventus after Martin Zubimendi's U-turn saw him remain with boyhood club Real Sociedad, the lack of major developments on any of Salah, Van Dijk or Trent Alexander-Arnold's contract status appeared as though little progress was being made behind the scenes.

Add in that Ibrahima Konate's situation is awaiting a significant public development since he was tabled fresh terms at the beginning of the year and Hughes, until this week, had only a Jarell Quansah extension and the capture of the bit-part Federico Chiesa to show for his efforts in the eyes of many.

But it's been something of a major week for Hughes in his efforts to consolidate what is still expected to be the squad that wins the Premier League title and Slot, after months of uncertainty and debate, can now fully count on Salah for the next two years, with Van Dijk expected to follow suit imminently.

The allure of Real Madrid appears to have proven too much for Alexander-Arnold to resist but keeping the club skipper and the forward who has topped the goalscoring charts every year since his arrival at Liverpool in 2017 should not be dismissed lightly as an achievement.

Hughes has not always been the doyen of the Reds fanbase during his near year-long stint in one of the most demanding off-field roles in football.

"We've worked hard, and by we I mean the ownership (Fenway Sports Group), Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, to achieve that.

With Van Dijk thought to have formal confirmation of his own contract soon and with Alexander-Arnold still expected to seek pastures new, it feels like the three subplots of Liverpool's season are finally reaching the conclusion that many expected.

That should allow Hughes, Slot and the rest of the recruitment department to refocus and hone in on exactly what they need for the summer transfer window as the Reds boss prepares to really imprint his fingerprints all over the squad he inherited last year by Jurgen Klopp.

A new left-back is thought to be under firm consideration, while the need for a No.9 has become more acute the longer the campaign has gone on

What prospective target wouldn't be inspired by the chance to combine with a player as rare as the Reds' Egyptian superstar?

With Salah and most likely Van Dijk both on board for the long haul as potential Premier League champions, it must surely whet the appetite of those who Liverpool are targeting for the next phase of the Slot era